Northern California
ISTA Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Experience - Level 1
April 25-May 2, 2023
If you are ready to transform your life, this week-long experiential event is for you
The People
Thousands of people on 5 continents have attended the ISTA training over the past 8 years and have been radically changed for the better by uncovering reactive patterns and transforming them into conscious ways of being.
The Retreat
This retreat focuses on clearing the physical and emotional body of shame, guilt and fear related to sexuality and authenticity. This is done through multiple pathways of healing: guided visualization, emotional release, shamanic initiations, energy tracking and conscious touch are just a few of the practices used to dive deep into the inner realms. The inner masculine and inner feminine archetypes are explored because when they are fully integrated a door opens to a deeper knowing of the Self as whole and complete.
The Event
This event unfolds within a powerful group process based on unconditional love, intimacy and acceptance of what is arising. By the end of this event, you will feel more open, relaxed and present and be more in touch with effortless flow of life, no matter what it looks like.
The Experience
No prior knowledge of shamanism or sacred sexuality is necessary to attend this retreat. This event is about expanding beyond your comfort zone, while honoring your healthy boundaries. Nudity and intimate touch are a part of this training, however, you are always at choice and the facilitators will help you navigate what is authentic for you. Individuals and couples of any sexual preference are welcome to attend.
This is an individual process that happens in a group environment and a level of ability to be self responsible is needed to navigate the spiritual sexual shamanic space. ISTA is a mystery school and approaches trauma from the shamanic perspective of connecting with the body and soul. We recommend that if there is known deep seated trauma, individuals seek one on one sessions and get the ok from their therapist before entering the group process.
More about the training
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This is only a partial list of what you may experience.
LEAD FACILITATOR
Crystal Dawn Morris is an ISTA Lead Facilitator, Tantra Teacher/Coach and Spiritual Midwife. She has been teaching Tantra for Awakening since 2007 and founded an online school, TantraVersity.com in 2018. Crystal is known for her warmth, enthusiasm and ability to create a safe space where magic unfolds. Her events and courses support the recognition of Truth in every aspect of life, from the mundane to the mystical. Embodiment of the True Self reveals the “field of being” that is available in every moment. This recognition creates a sense of ease, vitality and well-being. She lives in Sedona, AZ USA where offers coaching in-person, over the phone and via Zoom. She is passionate about helping people to wake up so they can experince more love and freedom in their lives.
Crystal Dawn’s Tantra studies began in 1989 after she had a spontaneous kundalini awakening that changed her life. Her formal Tantra studies began in 2003 with Margot Anand, author of The Art of Sexual Ecstasy and founder of Sky Dancing Tantra. Crystal Dawn was a certified Sky Dancing Tantra Teacher from 2007-2014.
Crystal’s shamanic path began as a child who connected to Spirit through the natural world around her. She began studying shamanism for her personal healing in 1985. She had a shamanic healing practice from 1995 to 2005. She has studied with Venus Rising Institute, The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Sandra Ingerman and numerous Native Medicine People since 1992. She is a Certified Shamanic Breathwork™ Facilitator and Shamanic Minister.
Crystal has two grown sons and five grandchildren. After the births of her sons she felt called to be a midwife. She spent over 20 years working in women’s health as an RN, Nurse-Midwife, and NP. She is committed to planetary awakening through ISTA, meditation, self-inquiry, Tantra, Shamanic Breathwork, sacred sexuality and the arts.
JAVI MARTINEZ
As a Shapeshifter, Trickster and Shaman in the Northern Tradition, Javi has transcended many barriers in her life, with the largest being immigrating to the United States as a child from Guatemala and her gender transition as an adult. Javi has professional training in clinical psychology and is a Graduate level Licensed Mental health Counselor (LMHC), has completed Spiritual, Shamanic and Tantric internships, and has studied with world leaders in Sacred Sexual Shamanism within the International School of Temple Arts (ISTA).
Being a priestess in Service to the Goddess as a Queer/Trans – woman, Javi offers many gifts in many forms to the world:
Being a Queer Trans-Woman, Javi struggled with finding a Tantra and Sacred Sexuality community that was not only accepting, but open and willing to grow and evolve out of the Gender-Binary and Hetero-Normative model that most other schools and groups employ. But now she has found her Tribe, here in ISTA. The first organization that not only allowed her to truly be herself, and participate in the manner that fully honored and validated her completely, but was also willing to learn from her, grow and change in order to be more welcoming and inclusive of our brothers and sisters in the LGBT community.
CO FACILITATOR
Rich is dedicated to the work of Personal Empowerment through Healthy and Fulfilling Sexuality Guidance, especially with people who come from a strict and limiting religious background (his was Mormon). He does this through Experiential Coaching and Events. One
Along with participating in ISTA trainings multiple times (including Level 1, 2 and 3, and Practitioner Training), Quodoushka, Shamanic De-Armoring, Tantra and other training, he became certified as a Cuddle Party Facilitator, as a way to introduce new ways-of-being to the conservative Utah community, where he raised his family (5 grown children and 9 grandchildren). One of his focuses is helping people from religious backgrounds, especially his Mormon heritage, to free themselves from the limiting "Box" of shame, control, guilt, judgment, and scarcity, to embrace their freedom to express and feel and live according to their individual truth. Rich has unique insight and understanding for people making the transition from ultra-conservative cultures, having served as a full-time missionary, "High Priest" and leader in his previous religious life, as well as a Master Mason (Freemasonry).
Starting and continuing to run a successful Record Label for over 30 years, Rich enjoys applying his years of music business experience to organizing ISTA trainings.
Within the word "Facilitator" is the Spanish word "Fácil" (easy). Rich is a facilitator in many ways, offering opportunities that make the path to healing and alignment easier.
APPRENTICE FACULTY
Sacred Sexuality Educator, Sexual Empowerment Coach and Erotic Embodiment Guide.
Usha Rose is the founder of the Erotic Embodiment Institute and creator of the Women's Pleasure and Power Program.
As a Sex, Love and Relationship Coach for the past five years, she is passionate about supporting other's to live the most sensually embodied, sexually empowered and lovingly satisfied life possible. She believes in creating the life you love and breaking free from social paradigms and limiting beliefs.
Her 1:1 coaching and group programs support you in living a more abundant, satisfying and powerful life. She also specializes in supporting individuals, couples and moresomes navigate non-traditional relating styles like polyamory, relationship anarchy and consensual non-monogamy so you can create relationships uniquely designed for your authentic desires, needs and lifestyle.
She is a graduate of the Tantric Institute of Integrated Sexuality, the Somatica™ Method of Sex and Relationship Coaching, the International School of Temple Arts Practitioner Training and LoveWorks Relationship Training Mastery Program.
Usha is also a passionate dancer and community organizer.
She co-founded Foothills Fusion Dance in 2014 as well as Convergence and Heartbeat, two Ecstatic and Fusion dance micro-festivals in Northern California. She is a Lead Facilitator for Cocréa, a mindful partner dance company that produces transformational dance retreats and workshops around the globe.
Usha has been partner dancing since 2005 and has been a part of the conscious dance community since 2010. In addition to studying a variety of partner dance modalities she has studied SoulMotion™ with Vinn Marti and Zuza Engler, completed the JourneyDance™ Teacher Training with Toni Bergins and continues to be inspired by the teachings of Contact Improv and 5Rhythms™.
She has taught on the subjects of Erotic Embodiment and Sacred Sexuality, as well as Partner Dance and Yoga, at several events around the country including Enchanted Forest Gathering, Jumpsuit Family Gathering and Northern California Dance Camp.
Usha is also a trained and experienced body worker and yogini for over 20 years.
Usha Rose is a licensed massage therapist and yoga teacher with over 15 years of professional experience and more than 2000 hours of training in yoga, meditation and the somatic healing arts.
She has been fascinated by love, sexuality, communications and relationships her entire life. No matter the modality, she works intuitively, intelligently and effectively to support her clients and students through their healing process and to align with their fullest potential.
Her offerings are deeply informed and inspired by nature, divinity, love, sensuality, embodiment, healthy relating, and constant striving towards being a better human.
When not working in her business you can find her dancing with friends and lovers or naked in nature somewhere communing with the divine.
ORGANIZER
What is Exquisite Dark Love Coaching?
Exquisite Dark Love is yours truly (Philippe Lewis) exploring the messiness of humans and open sourcing clarity and wisdom through critical thinking and conversations. His purpose is to support individuals and communities on the path of exploration, connection, trust, and sovereignty. When we come together, wisdom and support naturally arise, and this is how shift and growth happen! Welcome to the new paradigm of living and relating. Welcome to the path of Exquisite Dark Love.
Website: www.exquisitedark.love
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/exquisitedarklove/
News, Events, Classes: www.facebook.com/groups/exquisitedarklove/
Who is Philippe Lewis?
Philippe is a relationship educator. He created Exquisite Dark Love to support men and women in making better choices for themselves and each so they can become sovereign humans through the practice of connection, trust, consent, intimacy, love, and the exploration of attachment theory. He is the co-founder of ReMENber Brotherhood Journey, a coordinator with ISTA, the International School of Temple Arts, and a modern voice on critical thinking around morality and the integration of Masculine, Feminine, Dark, Light, and Shadow. Over the years, he founded the Open Relationship Community, the Attachment Community, and the Consent Community to support new emerging conversations on these important topics. He is also the happy father of a 9 year old boy who teaches him how to surrender to love and life more fully every day.
Facebook Wall: www.facebook.com/fuzzyp
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/philippesimonlewis/
What people have to say about the Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Experience
More Testimonials
unconditional support
My experience with ISTA is something I will cherish for as long as I can. Being new to sexual healing I can say with full confidence that ISTA has met and surpassed my wildest expectations for what sexual healing can look like and how necessary it is to feel and be human. Experiencing nothing but unconditional support I whole-heartedly am coming back for more. I felt a strong sense of tribal support after the first day with these amazing people, and I feel honored to witness and be witnessed by those brave enough to transform themselves for a better world. Please come and experience the beauty of life with us.
love love love
I feel blessed to have found the ISTA community. my soul has longed for my tribe, my heart has yearned to love without fear and my body has begged me to finally declare her as sacred. I am grateful for the wisdom, compassion, and guidance of Triambika Ma Vive, Araminta Barbour and Frank Mondeose as leaders of the sacred ceremonies of the past and facilitators of emotional and sexual healing. Throughout the training you three have artfully and gracefully broken me open to discover the beauty and truth of myself. I feel now that there is nothing that stands in the way of the possibilities I am now dreaming for myself and the world. Participating in ISTA Level 1 was the greatest transformational experience of my life. I feel an incredible surge of aliveness and can declare myself a powerful being, in touch with my sacred sexuality, connected to the immensity of love in my heart and devoted to my community and tribe. I can now say YES to life, YES to passion, YES to freedom of expression and YES to LOVE. Where else can you get such gifts ? Thank you. I am humbled, grateful and yes in Awe of the experience and the courage of my fellow beloveds on this journey. Love you all so much for holding the space for me, for loving me as I am, inspiring me and also for all the fun !!!! Til we meet again! Stay wild, stay present, stay connected and Love Love Love
healing big bang!
What a beautiful container for inner transformation. Was it a healing big-bang? a transformational earthquake? What I can say is, as soon as was in, no way to hold back, no way to stay in the old fashion comfort zone, no way to resist to the call for growing, no way to struggle, just surrendering to the wheel of transformation. Standing out, facing challenges, surrendering, expanding, going more and more out of the comfort zone, saying good bye to the social conditioning, standing boldly in the life, releasing blocked and unexpressed emotions, healing, growing, expanding, honoring myself, honoring my body, integrating more and more of my sacred sexual being, breathing, nourishing more and more my body, my being, quieting and clarifying my mind, releasing old useless and inadequate patterns, realigning with my pure authenticity, embodying my sovereignty, embodying my freedom. Coming back to the simplicity of naked mind in a naked body with a powerful innocent magic awesome sexual power. Far away from social mind controlled perception of reality. Far away from social distorted view of sexuality generated by church and society. This was the time for reconnection to one’s true nature, for taking back one’s personal power, deepening one’s awareness, coming back home to my body with bliss, power and love.
a journey
This journey has been an amazing experience that really shifted the way I feel about myself. Learning to integrate the male and female part within myself and see everybody else as both parts gives me a new way to approach others. After the training I really feel the way to honour and stand up for myself, while remaining on touch with physical and emotional body and the sweetness within it. what a journey, what a change, I don’t even want to go back to the way before Thanks for providing this beautiful journey with its deep insights and enormous skills.
no stories
There are no stories I can tell to describe this journey. Imagine you are an ocean with deep waters full of terrifying creatures. You close your eyes and jump in all the way to the bottom. As you come up through the ocean you encounter all these scary things and realize that they aren’t what you thought they were. You hold your breath and trust you will make it through. When you emerge from the depths you realize a beautiful, powerful creature awaits you. And that creature is you.
gratitude
I am very grateful for all the different processes I went through this week, each one was profoundly transformative, the team provided me the loving safe space to let go of some very old and deep wounds.
empowerment
ISTA training is of an essential nature. It takes the journey of a human experience into the perspective of healthy empowered being, it offers tools that allow you to heal your body and emotions and therefore enables participants to claim their birth right to truly live life.
an opportunity
ISTA offered me an opportunity and a space to shake up free up and escape into a reality of truth and honesty. It’s a journey I took with abundance of teachers that showed me the way into myself, the real me, my real body, my true pleasure. It made me find ways to beat the fears and illusions awake and realise they are there, it it poured for me a pavement to walk steady on, towards the encounter with myself. ISTA took me with many other and put us in a container, shook that container up again and again, and let us find what was shed, and what was left in each and every one of us. I am now stepping, aware, present and brave towards the most important change that will ever happen to me.
a call in the heart
If you feel a call in your heart to attend this training then go for it… yes, your mind will come up with all kinds of struggles and fears.. but still trust your heart and go for it. It is not just another seminar that fills you with information, but it will touch you deeply within your very soul and then the healing takes place.. a healing from the source, such a sacred place… take the chance and do it for yourself .. for your life!
boundless lessons
There are boundless lessons to take with me from this experience, but perhaps the most precious for me in this moment was to witness the creation of Sacred Space; space where all is held sacred and safe; space without judgement; space made from love. I truly feel that I can carry this with me and recreate it anywhere I want or need. Thank you!
prep school
ISTA provides the training we all needed in prep school. It's the fast track process to healing and awakening! I'm so blessed to have had come across this family. I can never express with words my gratitude and love for my brothers and sisters from ISTA. Namaste!
boundless lessons
The training has been the most powerful and transformative experience I had in my life. It really kicked up my transition towards a more peaceful and aligned life. I am really grateful that I had the courage to be fully immersed in this experience.
what is ISTA Level 1?
DISCLAIMER - This is based on my experience, and everyone's experience is unique, because it's a deep process! [Feel free to share]
I have decided to write this taster for those people who do not know the International School of Temple Arts, for those who feel tuned out when they listen to videos and descriptions about ISTA Level 1, because it's in a language not accessible to them.
I first came across ISTA totally by chance; I was traveling with my beloved in Guatemala and a poster caught my attention. Probably because it had the word sex in it, and because it looked attractive and exotic. David and I signed up as a present to our love, not knowing what the week would be about. We are both grateful we took the plunge, as ISTA L1 is a well-oiled machine!
So why are people so mysterious about ISTA Level 1? Why can't they just give me the curriculum so I can decide if it's for me? The answer is simple; a lot of the transformational work that is done during that week needs to be in context. Out of context, it sounds nuts. I have done 2 Level 1s; once as a participant, and another time as an assistant, and I can guarantee that my learning and journey was unique each time. However, I understand that your mind wants something more palpable, so here goes.
In one sentence - ISTA Level 1 is the education every human being should get when growing up.
Boundaries - Do you ever feel like you should have said no, but ended up saying yes? This relates to #metoo, but it also relates to those times when you accept too much responsibility at work, when you give a friend a shoulder although you really don't have the emotional strength at that moment, and other situations in which you are not clear about your boundaries and end up feeling depleted. ISTA Level 1 explores this expertly from different angles, so even if you think you are brilliant with your boundaries (and the boundaries of others), you'll become better.
Tools - Even if you are content and emotionally switched on, there is space to become happier, more connected to your feelings, desires, fears, dreams. Exploring anger was one of the more difficult challenges for me, precisely because I am pretty joyful. In a nutshell, the tools involve using your voice and body movements to let energy move through you. I'm sure at a moment of stress, you've stretched out your arms, or have gone for a walk. This is the next level and has much more impact.
The thing is not the thing - Whenever you feel angry that someone arrived late, frustrated about a decision made at work… you are becoming a victim of that thing or story. You might not be able to change how late that person is, but you can change how it affects you. ISTA L1 teaches you how to move into your power and break this cycle of victimhood. It takes practice post-training, but you are given tools.
Honesty - We are brought up to be polite, and this can get in the way of honesty. Since our first ISTA L1, my beloved and I have had some seriously deep and painful conversations, which have brought us to beautiful places. Sometimes you feel unsure about being upset about something someone did, but here's the trick, you can tell them that! You can be honest about how it makes you feel, instead of blaming them for it. The key is to be clear that it is not a competition, it is not an attack. Put yourself in that vulnerable place of "I love you, and I'm not sure why this triggers me, but when you xxx I felt xxx", keeps the channels of communication open, and you will be surprised how things shift in most of your relationships. You also have to accept that some people are still stuck in fight or flight mode, so you might not have such a successful honest conversation.
You are not your story - I'll take a simple example. Everyone feels that at some point their parents didn't make the best decision (even if like me, you think that overall your parents are incredible and did a brilliant job raising you). Guess what, you are a whole human being, you have yourself. You are your own mother, your father, you design your story from now on. Everyone has traumas (to different levels and degrees), and it can feel like you are messed up for good, but you are not. More and more research is going into neuroplasticity, so we have the ability to rewire through a change in habits, and like William Ernest Henley says in his poem Invictus, you are the master of your own fate, you are the captain of your soul.
Why is it so expensive? You will have a full-time one-week experience with 3 expert facilitators who will support you 24/7 during the week, and a number of assistants (number depends on size of group), accommodation, full board… so surely this costs money. ISTA might sound alien to you, but it is made up of human beings who pay bills.
There are numerous more gifts (and each of them more powerful) you will receive with this training, but I don't know how to explain them in all their awesomeness without you actually being there. So, take the plunge, and you will love me and yourself for it!
an extraordinary journey
I fell in love in a completely new a different way.
first classe transformational education
ISTA is a first class transformational education system with epic facilitators who are living the work. The program provides the opportunity for seriously deep exploration into self community and more expansive transpersonal realms. This is deep magic and is not for the faint of heart however if you are feeling the call do your self a favor and step across the threshold, you will not be disappointed. (and if you are disappointed you'll get an opportunity to source the root cause of that disappointment and clear it so it wont hold you back any longer)
Note: Start time on first day: 3pm
End time on last day: 1pm
Are you feeling the call?
If you are ready to radically enliven your sexuality and dive deep into the heart of your wild erotic nature, then join us. Through a beautiful synthesis of neurological re-wiring, ancient tantric practice, and shamanism, we will activate the powerful life force that is dwelling in your body.
In the safety of our temple you will:
This course is open to all who feel called. Experience is not required.
Feel into your body, your heart, and your mind. Allow them to align in the most perfect way. Is there anything missing for you to join us? We will be happy to answer any of your questions. Then when you are ready...
Follow the instructions on the right, or email us for other forms of payment.
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